The Ex-Wife’s Billion Dollar Comeback Novel

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Chapter 164: Mommy Was Here?

~ Rohan ~

Rohan stilled in his seat.

His mouth parted, but no words escaped him.

“Doctor, Arvind, Elizabeth, it was a lovely celebration, but

Soraya and | must leave now. It’s still a long drive to Belridge,”

Jacob said.

“Honey?” he repeated, turning to Soraya, his gaze blazing with

possessiveness.

Even Rohan’s parents were dumbfounded. Not one of them

managed a response.

“Um—Jacob and | like to keep a low profile,” Soraya flushed. “!

hope we can keep this between us. | do appreciate all the help

and support you've given me, it’s just that... I'm now with

Jacob.”

“| will support Aegis Core Systems through and through and

even recommend your business to my partners,’ Jacob added,

clearly implying it was his way of giving back.

“Wow.” Elizabeth finally cleared her throat. Then, she laughed.

“I'm sorry. We were stunned.”

“It just happened,” Soraya explained.

“Soraya and | are getting married. She values you and your

partnership very much. So, we will be sure to send you an

invite,” Jacob said, his gaze landing on Rohan. “I'm sure one

day, Doctor Sharma will find someone else to love.”

“Oh.” Elizabeth's eyes landed on Soraya’s hand. “So, that's why?”

Rohan followed his mother's gaze and focused on the ring on

Soraya’s finger.

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“Yes, that's why,” Jacob confirmed.

Again, Elizabeth chuckled. “I thought | recognized that ring,

but | doubted myself. Soraya, you tend to put others before

yourself. So, | never expected to see you wearing an

extravagant ring.”

“Don't get me wrong, it suits you perfectly. If anyone deserves

it, it's definitely you,” Elizabeth added, smiling at Soraya. “But

of course, knowing now who gave it to you, | can definitely

confirm it's ‘The Celeste of Navarre; sold to a mysterious

buyer for three hundred million dollars.”

Rohan noticed Soraya’s face twist in confusion, but before she

could react, his father said, “It really is a surprise for us.”

“Congratulations.” Arvind got up and shook Jacob’s hand. “We

will step back, Mr. Steel. You are very lucky to have Soraya as

your soon-to-be wife.”

“Thank you,” Jacob nodded. "I swore to cherish her."

“Well, we don't want to keep you,” Elizabeth said. “Take care

on the road.”

“Thank you, Elizabeth, Arvind,” Soraya said. “Rohan.”

All Rohan could do was nod at that point, but he couldn’t help

feeling the pang in his chest. He had liked Soraya for long—

too long.

For a few minutes, Rohan merely watched Soraya and Jacob

leave the ballroom, but eventually he followed after them,

exiting to the second-floor balcony landing. Rohan watched

as the couple made their way down to the main lobby.

He took several deep breaths, struggling to accept the truth.

Of all the men, it had to be Jacob Steel.

Jacob Steel was someone beyond his reach. How could he

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ever compete with such a man?

“So, now you know.”

Rohan turned to find Silas.

Silas stood next to him, looking down at the staircase. “| was

never your competition. It hurts, | know, but Soraya deserves

to be happy—and she found it in him.”

"If it makes you feel better, the guy isn't funny.”

No. That didn't make him feel better at all.

ee

~ Soraya ~

Heartbeats later.

Soraya sat next to Sage in bed, chest tightening.

Sage was fast asleep, hugging a plushie.

It was painful to see her, but just as hard to stay away.

“Why don't you wake her up?” Amanda suggested.

Soraya’s gaze landed on the charm bracelet on Sage’s wrist.

She shook her head and said, “| don’t want to, Mom. | don’t

want to get hurt by whatever her reaction will be, and | don’t

want to hope.”

She told Amanda about her last meeting with Calum, about

how Rose had set her up.

Amanda was angered, but Soraya was quick to soothe her. “

Please don't get emotional, Mom. | knew you would take my

side, and | didn’t want to cause any more trouble between you

and Calum, because we were all facing several issues.”

She pointed out how they were still dealing with the Rowans

and how she and Jacob were preparing to fight a custody

battle. “I just couldn't handle any more drama and involve you

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in it, so | let it be... for now.”

“wish you and Sage would have time to bond while Calum

and Rose are away,’ Amanda said.

But that wasn’t going to happen. Soraya and Jacob were

leaving for Burnell.

“I'll talk to Sage. Now that Rose is not around, maybe | can

make her realize how important you are to her,” Amanda

suggested.

Soraya nodded. She certainly hoped it would work.

Then Soraya noticed the congestion in Sage’s breathing. “

Does she have a cold?”

“Im not sure,” Amanda said. “| noticed her sneezing earlier, so

maybe a little cold, or allergies.”

Soraya looked around, and when she didn’t find what she was

looking for, she called the maid, “Belinda?”

Calum had brought Belinda along to Amanda and Cedric’s

mansion. She assumed all of Sage’s things should be around

too.

“Yes, Miss?” Belinda quickly responded, panting from a quick

run.

“Where are Sage’s essential oils?” Soraya asked. “Her nose is

congested. Didn't you notice?”

“Yes, Miss. | already gave her an anti-allergy medication,”

Belinda said before looking around to find the essential oils

and giving them to Soraya.

Soraya took a few drops of eucalyptus oil in her hand.

“Eucalyptus oil can help her breathe easier,” she explained

before massaging it gently on Sage's chest. “It loosens the

mucus and opens her airways, but it doesn’t actually stop the

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allergy itself.”

The maid looked puzzled, so Soraya added patiently, “That's

where anti-allergy medicine comes in. It calms the body's

reaction, so the sneezing and swelling don't even start. The

oil makes her feel better in the moment, but the medicine

prevents the problem from growing worse.”

“Remember that, Belinda,” Soraya said. “I’m no longer around

to take care of Sage, and Mom is not always around either,

especially if Calum and Rose are here.”

“But Miss, sometimes they don’t bring me to Miss Rose's

apartment,” Belinda explained.

“I'll talk to Calum about consistently taking Belinda with them.

| still don’t get why they switch houses sometimes,” Amanda

muttered.

Soraya took a few moments to watch Sage asleep. After a

while, she kissed Sage’s cheek and said to Amanda, “I need to

go now, Mom. We have a long drive ahead. Please tell Sage |

was here, and that | miss her and | will always love her.”

ee

~ Amanda ~

When morning came, Amanda woke up Sage for breakfast.

Her granddaughter yawned awake. A smile formed on Sage’s

lips as she said, “Grandma, | had a great sleep. | smell—"

She sniffed herself, muttering, “| remember this. Mommy used

to massage me when | was sick.”

Amanda smiled. “Yes, your mommy came here last night and

noticed your nose was stuffy.”

“Mommy was here?” Sage looked surprised.

“Yes,” Amanda confirmed. “She gave you a massage. She didn’

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t want to wake you anymore. She said she misses you and

she loves you always.”

“She loves me?” Sage asked again, frowning.

Sage pouted, looking down at her hands. “Aunt Rose said

Mommy doesn’t love me as much anymore. Mommy doesn’t

even reply to my messages.”

Hearing what Sage said, Amanda's blood boiled. "No, that's

impossible. Give me your tablet."